New Year with the Cartel (Nightshade Wolves #8)

Chapter 12

Fendwyr

I watched Gustall from across my office as he dozed on the leather couch, his golden hair falling across his face. The sight of him there, vulnerable and mine, stirred something possessive in my chest again. It was far from the first time I felt something like that.

Since the vision I had three nights ago, I'd kept him within arm's reach, unwilling to let him wander too far. The memory of his death in our past life—the feeling of losing him—had awakened something in me. And it was a feeling almost impossible to control.

The door opened, and Marcus slipped in silently, his eyes darting to Gustall before settling on me. Smart man—he knew better than to stare too long at my omega. Otherwise, he knew what would happen.

"Report," I commanded right away. I didn't have time to waste, considering the last revelations.

"The antiquities dealer made contact," Marcus said, keeping his voice low. "He's trying to authenticate something that matches your description. Silver necklace, ancient symbols that seem to shift and change."

I leaned forward. "Location?"

"That's where it gets complicated, boss." Marcus shifted. He wasn't feeling comfortable talking about our current topic. "He's been meeting with Rodriguez's people. Three meetings in the past two days, all at different locations."

Rodriguez. That complicated things, as much as I didn't want to admit it. The rival cartel leader had been pushing against my territory's boundaries for months now, testing my patience and my power. If he had the necklace...

A soft noise from the couch drew my attention. Gustall was stirring, his scent shifting as he woke. There was something different about it lately—sweeter, more enticing. I couldn't help but wonder why. It made my alpha instincts surge with an almost overwhelming need to protect and possess, as usual.

"Keep watching the dealer," I told Marcus. "I want to know everyone he talks to, everywhere he goes. And get me everything we have on Rodriguez's recent movements."

"Already done." Marcus placed a thick file on my desk. "He's been recruiting a lot. At least thirty new men in the past week, all armed. Word is he's preparing for something big. We are trying to find out what it is."

"Or maybe he's protecting something valuable," I mused, thinking of the necklace's power. In my vision, I'd known its importance right away —it wasn't just jewelry, but a key to unlocking something significant.

The door opened again, this time admitting Jake, one of my lieutenants, followed by an unfamiliar alpha. The stranger's gaze locked onto Gustall, who was now sitting up on the couch, and I felt my muscles tense. This didn't feel right.

"Boss," Jake started, "this is Chen from the Hong Kong syndicate. He's here about the weapons shipment, but—"

I cut him off with a low growl as Chen took a step toward the couch, his nostrils flaring as he caught Gustall's scent. "The weapons can wait."

Chen seemed to realize his mistake, but not quickly enough. I was already moving, positioning myself between him and my omega. The air grew thick with dominant pheromones as I stared him down. I was going to protect my omega no matter what.

"My apologies," Chen said in a flash, though his eyes kept drifting to Gustall. "I wasn't aware your... companion was spoken for. His scent is quite... unusual."

"Choose your next words carefully," I warned, letting my power flood the room. Behind me, I heard Gustall's sharp intake of breath. He still wasn't accustomed to how possessive I could be sometimes.

Chen backed away, finally showing proper submission. "The weapons deal. Shall we discuss it now?"

"Later." I dismissed him with a wave. "Jake will show you to the guest quarters. And Chen?" I lowered the tone of my voice. "If I catch you looking at my omega again, you won't leave those quarters alive."

He looked at me as if he wanted to say something but didn’t know what. Slowly, he moved toward the door. I noticed his hand was shaking. Good, I thought. I wanted him to feel that way. As long as he did, he understood that Gustall was mine.

And then the door closed, silence falling into the room.

After they left, I turned to find Gustall standing, his face flushed with either anger or arousal—possibly both. "I can handle myself, you know."

"Can you?" I crossed the room in three long strides, backing him against the wall. "Your scent is different lately. Stronger. More appealing to other alphas." I buried my nose in his neck, inhaling deeply. Yes, definitely sweeter, with an underlying change I couldn't quite place, but soon I would figure it out. "You're drawing attention you can't handle, and you know how much I hate that."

"I'm not some possession," he argued again, though he tilted his head, baring his throat to me. "And we have more important things to discuss. The necklace—"

"Is important," I agreed, nipping at his exposed skin. "But keeping you safe is more important." I pulled back to study his face. He looked tired, though he tried to hide it. "Tell me why you smell different, and don't try to lie. I'll know"

A flash of panic crossed his features before he masked it. "I don't know what you're talking about. What did your men find out about the necklace?"

I allowed the deflection, filing away his reaction for later consideration. Pulling him with me, I moved to my desk and the files Marcus had brought. "Rodriguez has been busy. New recruits, increased security, unusual meetings." I spread out several surveillance photos. "He's preparing for something."

Gustall leaned over the desk, and I noticed how he swayed slightly, as if dizzy. Before I could comment, another knock interrupted us.

"Enter," I called, keeping one hand on Gustall's lower back to make sure that whoever entered saw he was mine.

One of my younger recruits, David, hurried in with a tablet. "Boss, we've got movement. Rodriguez's men are escorting the antiquities dealer to the old warehouse district. They're carrying something that matches the necklace's description."

I studied the live feed on the tablet. "How many men?"

"Twenty visible, probably more hidden. They're heavily armed."

"Good." I smiled, though there was nothing warm about it. "Prepare the team. We move tonight."

"I'm coming with you," Gustall declared.

Both David and I turned to look at him—David with surprise, me with dark amusement. "No." Of course he couldn't. Was he crazy?

"When you told me about your dream, I remembered the necklace as well," he argued. "I might notice details you missed. Besides, if it's really connected to us as much as you think it is, shouldn't I be there?"

"What you should be," I growled, "is safe. David, leave us."

The young recruit bolted from the room. As soon as we were alone, I pulled Gustall against me, one hand gripping his chin. "You seem to be laboring under some misunderstanding about how this works. Maybe I should clarify that."

"How what works?" He challenged, though I could smell his arousal spiking. He loved challenging me as much as I did.

"Our relationship. This isn't a democracy, little omega. When it comes to your safety, I make the decisions." I tightened my grip when he tried to pull away. "You died in our last life because of this necklace. I won't risk that again. I can't."

"But—"

I silenced him with a bruising kiss, dominating his mouth until I felt his resistance crumble. When I pulled back, his lips were swollen, his eyes glazed. "You'll stay here, where it's safe. That's not a request."

My phone buzzed—another message from Marcus. The information it contained made my blood run cold.

"What is it?" Gustall asked, still breathless.

"Rodriguez isn't just trying to authenticate the necklace," I answered. "He's been researching its history. Ancient texts, legends about fated mates, stories about its power to transfer abilities and memories across lifetimes." I met Gustall's worried gaze. "He knows what it is, what it can do. And now he has it. Fuck!"

"All the more reason—"

"No." I cut him off. "You're staying here, under guard. I've already lost you once to this necklace's power. I won't lose you again." I called out, and two of my most trusted men entered in a flash. "Watch him. If he tries to leave, stop him. If anyone tries to reach him, kill them."

As I prepared to leave, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about my omega. His scent, his behavior, the way other alphas reacted to him—something had changed. But with Rodriguez in possession of the necklace and its power, I had bigger concerns than Gustall's mysterious changes.

For now.